TUCSON – Simon Fraser University dropped a pair of games Saturday at the D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona, losing 6-2 to Colorado Christian and 4-3 to Colorado Mesa at Lincoln Park.
SFU won its opening two games on Friday over Eastern New Mexico, 7-3, and California of Pennsylvania, 11-3, in five innings.
Colorado Christian scored three runs in the fourth inning, and then added one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh for the win.
SFU scored a run in the fifth inning when
Hanna Finkelstein doubled to right center, tried to stretch it to a triple, and was thrown out at third.
Janique Balcaen scored after having reached base on a fielder's choice.
Rebecca Kirkpatrick hit an RBI single in the sixth to score
Chelsea Hotner, and cut the SFU deficit to 4-2.
Colorado pitcher Alexis Hamilton tossed a seven hitter, giving up two hits each to Finkelstein and Balcaen, while striking out eight.
Pitcher
Anissa Zacharczuk went six innings for SFU, giving up six hits and four runs while striking out three. Makayla Benz pitched one inning, giving up four hits and two runs.
In the second game, Colorado Mesa scored twice in the first inning and twice in the seventh to win it. SFU scored three times in the fourth to hold the lead entering the final inning.
In the night cap, Myah Arrieta stroked a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Colorado Mesa a 4-3 win. It was her only hit of the game, but it was important as it scored a pinch-runner on the play. Ellie Smith had evened the game just a batter before Arrieta. Smith singled to center to score a runner to knot the game at 3-3 in the last half of the game.
Simon Fraser took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning after an error and a two-run single by Balcaen, who went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Georgia Ogg was 2-of-3 as SFU managed eight hits in the game.
Benz went the distance on the mound for SFU, giving up nine hits and four runs.
SFU will wrap up the tournament Sunday with a matchup against Western New Mexico. It will host its first home doubleheader on February 26 against Central Washington at Beedie Field, beginning at noon.
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